September 23, 1963, CBS presented its lineup for the new season. This was the second such presentation, and returning from the year before were Danny Thomas, Andy Griffith, Lucille Ball, and Jack Benny to continue their shows. The new show would be The New Phil Silvers Show.
A few years earlier Phil had starred as the classic character, Sergeant Bilko. One of the funniest shows ever produced and ran here in the UK for decades after its cancellation. This was the highlight of his career and he was never able to really shake the persona of the fast-talking con man.
With this in mind, it was decided to feature, pretty much the same character, in a new show. Instead of taking place in the army, it would be in a factory.
It was an immediate disaster. It was one thing fleecing the army, it was quite another when the victims were ordinary working men. His character came across as lazy and unlikeable rather than funny. A well-paid worker he slept in late but clocked in punctually because he had found a way to tamper with the time clock. This didn’t come across well if you were an honest worker and this was the tone of the whole show. Complaints reached the studio and the character became more family orientated. But it didn’t work. I remember the show well and hated it. More so because I loved Bilko and was expecting so much.
It lasted thirty episodes and was gone.
From the photo, only Lucy and Andy would return the following year and last till 1968. Jack moved to NBC. Danny’s show was still very popular but he was tired and took the decision to end the show.
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